I was very honored when the Furniture Row Racing team asked me to announce the date of the 2011 debut of the Farm American car! But first, here's a rundown of the past weeks activities. And if you haven't heard of the Farm American project you can learn more about it here.
This past week has been a whirlwind of exciting news about Farm American. Earlier in the week it was announced that Agro-Culture Liquid Fertilizer has become the first official financial sponsor for the program. This third-generation family business based in Michigan is rooted in the same values and has the same commitment to family farmers and ranchers as the Furniture Row team does. It's going to be a great partnership!
Having the Agro team come on board this week also reminded many of us about why this program is so important. It's been designed to directly connect farmers and ranchers with consumers. It doesn't include some quasi-celebrity delivering a canned message that nobody believes. We are our own best spokespeople and that exactly who consumers want to meet.
Even the team owner Barney Visser was re-inspired by everything that's been happening lately. Because of that he has decided to personally donate another race to the Farm American schedule.
So....the 2011 debut for Farm American will be at Texas Motor Speedway on April 9!!
I want to personally thank Barney and the entire team at Furniture Row for their unwavering dedication to America's farmers and ranchers. I've never witnessed an organization with no ties to agriculture dedicate themselves so fully to helping tell our story.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
A Spokesman for Agriculture
So many people have said we need to have some sort of official spokesman for agriculture. On the surface this sounds like a good idea. That's what most anti-agriculture groups do to distort the truth of food production. They cart out some celebrity who has never given agriculture a second thought and try to convince the public that they are somehow an expert.
We are fortunate enough to get to share our story with other producers quite often and we always emphasize to them that we are the true experts. That's why it's so important that we are out telling the real story as often as we can. And that's also why I don't want some celebrity trying to be a spokesman for me!
We've seen how difficult it can be to get the real story of ag out to consumers. The last thing I want is a paid celebrity trying to tell my story for me. Some people will say that celebrities can reach a broader audience than we can. That's not true. If every farmer and rancher told their story to one new person every day just think how many people we would reach with the truth. Even Mike Rowe said that farmers and ranchers are their own best spokesmen.
It may seem difficult for us to reach a new person every day but through things like social media and programs like Farm American we can do it. Social media lets us talk to people all over the world without ever leaving home. Many conversations about agriculture are taking place on social media so it's important that we are there to be part of them.
The Farm American program is an incredible opportunity for us to use the resources of Furniture Row to spread the message. Between their NASCAR team and their retail locations, we can reach 160 million people a week. The main goal of the Farm American program is to highlight the farmers and ranchers themselves so they can share their story. The folks at Furniture Row don't pretend to be experts in agriculture, they just want to provide platforms for the real experts to talk to consumers.
Family farmers and ranchers don't need a spokesman, we are the spokesman. Nobody will tell our story with the same accuracy and passion as we will. That's one of the main reasons why we continue to give our fellow producers the tools to tell their story. Its also why we are avid supporters of the Farm American program.
We are fortunate enough to get to share our story with other producers quite often and we always emphasize to them that we are the true experts. That's why it's so important that we are out telling the real story as often as we can. And that's also why I don't want some celebrity trying to be a spokesman for me!
We've seen how difficult it can be to get the real story of ag out to consumers. The last thing I want is a paid celebrity trying to tell my story for me. Some people will say that celebrities can reach a broader audience than we can. That's not true. If every farmer and rancher told their story to one new person every day just think how many people we would reach with the truth. Even Mike Rowe said that farmers and ranchers are their own best spokesmen.
It may seem difficult for us to reach a new person every day but through things like social media and programs like Farm American we can do it. Social media lets us talk to people all over the world without ever leaving home. Many conversations about agriculture are taking place on social media so it's important that we are there to be part of them.
The Farm American program is an incredible opportunity for us to use the resources of Furniture Row to spread the message. Between their NASCAR team and their retail locations, we can reach 160 million people a week. The main goal of the Farm American program is to highlight the farmers and ranchers themselves so they can share their story. The folks at Furniture Row don't pretend to be experts in agriculture, they just want to provide platforms for the real experts to talk to consumers.
Family farmers and ranchers don't need a spokesman, we are the spokesman. Nobody will tell our story with the same accuracy and passion as we will. That's one of the main reasons why we continue to give our fellow producers the tools to tell their story. Its also why we are avid supporters of the Farm American program.
Monday, January 31, 2011
All-American Beef Battalion
While we were in Wichita for the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Leadership Conference I had the privilege of meeting Bill Broadie. Bill has spent his entire life in the beef industry except for the years his gave to his county. He's a Vietnam War veteran that, like many of his fellow soldiers, didn't receive the hero's welcome he should have when he came home from the war.
It's hard for me to understand why this would ever happen but Bill wanted to make sure that our current soldiers didn't have to experience the same thing. He combined his passion for the beef industry with his appreciation for our nation's returning heroes when he formed the All-American Beef Battalion. It's a program that feeds our troops and their families the best home-cooked steak dinner imaginable when they return home from the war.
Going out for a nice steak dinner with our families is something that most of us take for granted. But these soldiers haven't seen their families in months or years and during that time they certainly weren't eating at a nice restaurant. Listening to Bill tell the stories of how much our troops appreciate this simple act of appreciation will bring a tear to anyone's eye and make you appreciate everything you have.
It was a privilege for me to donate to this cause and I would really encourage all of you to support it as well. They are a non-profit that relies on donations of money, time and beef to make this happen. If they can't get that then our troops don't get to enjoy one of these meals. Amazingly they have fed over 60,000 steak dinners in the past couple of years but there are more heroes returning home everyday that deserve the same.
Bill is serving his country for the second time in his life, let's give him the appreciation and support he should have gotten the first time.
It's hard for me to understand why this would ever happen but Bill wanted to make sure that our current soldiers didn't have to experience the same thing. He combined his passion for the beef industry with his appreciation for our nation's returning heroes when he formed the All-American Beef Battalion. It's a program that feeds our troops and their families the best home-cooked steak dinner imaginable when they return home from the war.
Going out for a nice steak dinner with our families is something that most of us take for granted. But these soldiers haven't seen their families in months or years and during that time they certainly weren't eating at a nice restaurant. Listening to Bill tell the stories of how much our troops appreciate this simple act of appreciation will bring a tear to anyone's eye and make you appreciate everything you have.
It was a privilege for me to donate to this cause and I would really encourage all of you to support it as well. They are a non-profit that relies on donations of money, time and beef to make this happen. If they can't get that then our troops don't get to enjoy one of these meals. Amazingly they have fed over 60,000 steak dinners in the past couple of years but there are more heroes returning home everyday that deserve the same.
Bill is serving his country for the second time in his life, let's give him the appreciation and support he should have gotten the first time.
SDSU Students Study Unwanted Horse Issues
SDSU students outline unwanted horse problem
Steve Miller Journal correspondent | Posted: Sunday, January 30, 2011 9:00 am | (2) Comments
The number of unwanted horses in the United States is growing by nearly 150,000 a year since the closing of the last U.S. slaughter plants, and no single, easy solution is in sight.
Those were some conclusions of a study conducted by students in South Dakota State University’s animal and range sciences department.
Ten students presented their study Friday to a small audience at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center during the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo.
In 2006, the year before the last three horse slaughtering plants closed in the United States, about 105,000 horses were killed, said first-year graduate student Kathy Koch of Crofton, Neb.
The plants were forced to close after Congress eliminated funding for federal inspection of horse meat for human consumption.
Since then, thousands of unwanted U.S. horses have been going to slaughter plants in Mexico and Canada.
An outright ban on the sale or transportation of horses for slaughter is pending in Congress.
Koch said there are now about 170,000 unwanted horses each year.
She said that even if all 432 adoption facilities in the country could take 50 horses each, only 21,600 horses could be adopted, leaving a net of 148,400 unwanted horses. Read More
The issue of unwanted horses continues to grow. While many of the animal rights activists think everything is fine and refuse to engage in real discussions of how to handle so many unwanted horses, there plenty of people in agriculture that are looking at a real problem and offering real solutions. There seems to be plenty of people that think we live in a world where nothing ever dies and life is always happy and easy. The real story is this, the only way life can continue to exist on this planet is if something dies every day. The success of life depends on death. We have the ability to use these livestock as a resource that not only assists us in their life but also in their death. There's nothing wrong with using horses to feed people. For thousands of years we have relied on livestock to benefit our lives and that still holds true today. The cruelest thing we can do for these horses, to mother nature and to ourselves is waste this natural resource.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Talking Agriculture with Mike Rowe
Last weekend Stacy and I had the privilege of meeting with Mike Rowe. If you haven't heard of Mike you've probably been living under a rock for the past six or seven years. He's practically become the face of the Discovery Channel with his hit show Dirty Jobs and along the way he's also become the face of the American worker.
Through his experiences doing Dirty Jobs across the country he's come to realize and appreciate that everything we have is either grown or mined from the earth. Along with that his appreciation for the people that do that work has grown.
Out of that the mikeroweWORKS.com website was born. It's a site dedicated to educating people about the importance of skilled trade workers, including farmers and ranchers. Through that Mike happened to find my youtube video where I dumped a bottle of Yellow Tail wine on the frozen ground to tell people that they had made a donation to the world's wealthiest animal rights group, the Humane Society of the United States.
Our work with the Farm American project also caught Mike's eye and they featured a blog post of mine about the program on their site. When it turned out that we were all going to be in Atlanta at the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting we were able to finally meet in person.
Mike and his team were very interested to hear about our efforts to advocate for agriculture, including our work with the Farm American program. Mike gets a lot of requests to be spokesman. In fact he was the most sought after spokesman in the world in 2010. His name has been thrown around many times in the world of agriculture as someone that would be a great spokesman for our industry. But Mike can wisely see that we don't need a single spokesman, we need lots and lots of advocates for agriculture. Mike isn't an expert in food production, not the way that farmers and ranchers are. So while he is certainly willing to help share the story, ultimately we are the ones that need to be doing it.
Mike also highlighted the efforts of the Farm American program as a great way for farming and ranching families to spread their message. He was impressed by the unselfish efforts of Furniture Row to start the program because it was the right thing to do, not as a way to pay for a race team. When you explain to someone all of the things we could do with Farm American to tell the story of agriculture it starts sounding too good to be true. One look at the race car proves the intentions of Furniture Row though. There's not a single mention of Furniture Row on the car. That really caught the attention of Mike as it has with so many others.
We are really looking forward to a continued partnership with Mike and his team at mikeroweWORKS.com to tell the story of agriculture. Mike is a genuine guy who was a pleasure to meet and visit with. He's certainly a friend of every hard working American and as he put it, a big fan of "chewing and swallowing". It was a real pleasure to spend a few hours "chewing and swallowing" with him last week.
You've heard me telling you to be an advocate for agriculture, now hear it from Mike Rowe.
Through his experiences doing Dirty Jobs across the country he's come to realize and appreciate that everything we have is either grown or mined from the earth. Along with that his appreciation for the people that do that work has grown.
Out of that the mikeroweWORKS.com website was born. It's a site dedicated to educating people about the importance of skilled trade workers, including farmers and ranchers. Through that Mike happened to find my youtube video where I dumped a bottle of Yellow Tail wine on the frozen ground to tell people that they had made a donation to the world's wealthiest animal rights group, the Humane Society of the United States.
Our work with the Farm American project also caught Mike's eye and they featured a blog post of mine about the program on their site. When it turned out that we were all going to be in Atlanta at the American Farm Bureau Federation meeting we were able to finally meet in person.
Mike and his team were very interested to hear about our efforts to advocate for agriculture, including our work with the Farm American program. Mike gets a lot of requests to be spokesman. In fact he was the most sought after spokesman in the world in 2010. His name has been thrown around many times in the world of agriculture as someone that would be a great spokesman for our industry. But Mike can wisely see that we don't need a single spokesman, we need lots and lots of advocates for agriculture. Mike isn't an expert in food production, not the way that farmers and ranchers are. So while he is certainly willing to help share the story, ultimately we are the ones that need to be doing it.
Mike also highlighted the efforts of the Farm American program as a great way for farming and ranching families to spread their message. He was impressed by the unselfish efforts of Furniture Row to start the program because it was the right thing to do, not as a way to pay for a race team. When you explain to someone all of the things we could do with Farm American to tell the story of agriculture it starts sounding too good to be true. One look at the race car proves the intentions of Furniture Row though. There's not a single mention of Furniture Row on the car. That really caught the attention of Mike as it has with so many others.
We are really looking forward to a continued partnership with Mike and his team at mikeroweWORKS.com to tell the story of agriculture. Mike is a genuine guy who was a pleasure to meet and visit with. He's certainly a friend of every hard working American and as he put it, a big fan of "chewing and swallowing". It was a real pleasure to spend a few hours "chewing and swallowing" with him last week.
You've heard me telling you to be an advocate for agriculture, now hear it from Mike Rowe.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Free Estate Planning Webinar
I posted an article a few weeks ago talking about estate planning and the personal responses I got back were great. There's no doubt in my mind that this is one of the most difficult things that farming and ranching families have to deal with. It's also one of those things that an expert must be used to complete. Finding that expert to guide your family along the estate planning path is hard.
Stacy and I have found that expert and have developed a partnership with him to help bring the best estate planning tool to you. Randy McKee, is a nationally recognized expert on guiding farming and ranching families through this difficult process. He's South Dakota born and raised, has a passion for agriculture and mostly, he has a passion for helping families in agriculture.
Because of the interest that so many of you have, including me, on this topic Randy has graciously scheduled a free webinar to talk about some of the sucessful strategies he's developed for families to use. Everything from dealing with family relationships (good and bad) to learning the pieces of an estate plan will be discussed.
Please take advantage of this unique opportunity. All the details on how to register for this free webinar are posted below.
Your friend in ag,
Troy
A quality estate plan can literally save your place (farm) from negatives such as estate taxes, family fights, legal losses and uninsured losses.
During this short, 45-minute seminar you will learn why it is so important to take care of estate planning. We will also introduce the most effective tool available today - specifically designed to educate and motivate farm and ranch families to get that estate planning work completed. This is the national webinar premier for this program and you are sure to learn some valuable strategies and enjoy the content.
Title: "Persuading The In-Charge Generation To Do Estate Planning"
Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011
The webinar will be offered at: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST and 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM MST
Register now by clicking the link below:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/983080825
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
Stacy and I have found that expert and have developed a partnership with him to help bring the best estate planning tool to you. Randy McKee, is a nationally recognized expert on guiding farming and ranching families through this difficult process. He's South Dakota born and raised, has a passion for agriculture and mostly, he has a passion for helping families in agriculture.
Because of the interest that so many of you have, including me, on this topic Randy has graciously scheduled a free webinar to talk about some of the sucessful strategies he's developed for families to use. Everything from dealing with family relationships (good and bad) to learning the pieces of an estate plan will be discussed.
Please take advantage of this unique opportunity. All the details on how to register for this free webinar are posted below.
Your friend in ag,
Troy
A quality estate plan can literally save your place (farm) from negatives such as estate taxes, family fights, legal losses and uninsured losses.
During this short, 45-minute seminar you will learn why it is so important to take care of estate planning. We will also introduce the most effective tool available today - specifically designed to educate and motivate farm and ranch families to get that estate planning work completed. This is the national webinar premier for this program and you are sure to learn some valuable strategies and enjoy the content.
Title: "Persuading The In-Charge Generation To Do Estate Planning"
Date: Thursday, January 13, 2011
The webinar will be offered at: 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST and 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM MST
Register now by clicking the link below:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/983080825
After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Summit of the Horse
U.S. NEWS
JANUARY 5, 2011
Horse Slaughter Is Reconsidered
Animal-Welfare Groups Are Joining Ranchers in a Push to Revive an Industry That Died in 2007
By STEPHANIE SIMON
Less than four years after the last equine slaughterhouses in the U.S. closed down, an unlikely coalition of ranchers, horse owners and animal-welfare groups is trying to bring them back.
The group, gathering in Las Vegas this week for a conference called Summit of the Horse, aims to map out a strategy for reviving an industry that slaughtered as many as 100,000 horses a year in the U.S. before it was effectively shut down by congressional action in 2007.
Advocates say the slaughterhouses could bring an economic boost to rural areas and give owners who no longer have the means or inclination to care for the horses an economical and humane way to dispose of them.
"We believe that humane processing is absolutely a moral and an ethical choice," said Sue Wallis, a Wyoming state lawmaker who organized the event.
Animal-rights supporters have been lobbying Congress for a ban on exporting horses for slaughter. They've had no success—but even if a ban did pass, some activists say, it would do little to ease suffering, as owners desperate to shed responsibility for their animals might simply abandon them to starve. Hiring a veterinarian to euthanize and dispose of a horse can cost hundreds of dollars. Horse-rescue groups take in some unwanted animals, but they don't have the resources to care for them all.
"Every day, I'm turning horses away. I feel like I'm playing God, because I have to pick and choose," said Whitney Wright, director of Hope for Horses, a rescue group in Asheville, N.C. She worked to shut down slaughterhouses but now would like to see a few reopen under strict guidelines for humane handling.
Read More
There is no doubt that there is an over-abundance of horses in this country. The availability of a domestic harvest facility would greatly reduce the suffering that is currently taking place. The Summit of the Horse is currently taking place where discussions about this very thing are taking place. While animal rights activists like to spend their time mocking those of us who raise livestock and provide food for this country, we are having the serious discussions that need to take place.
JANUARY 5, 2011
Horse Slaughter Is Reconsidered
Animal-Welfare Groups Are Joining Ranchers in a Push to Revive an Industry That Died in 2007
By STEPHANIE SIMON
Less than four years after the last equine slaughterhouses in the U.S. closed down, an unlikely coalition of ranchers, horse owners and animal-welfare groups is trying to bring them back.
The group, gathering in Las Vegas this week for a conference called Summit of the Horse, aims to map out a strategy for reviving an industry that slaughtered as many as 100,000 horses a year in the U.S. before it was effectively shut down by congressional action in 2007.
Advocates say the slaughterhouses could bring an economic boost to rural areas and give owners who no longer have the means or inclination to care for the horses an economical and humane way to dispose of them.
"We believe that humane processing is absolutely a moral and an ethical choice," said Sue Wallis, a Wyoming state lawmaker who organized the event.
Animal-rights supporters have been lobbying Congress for a ban on exporting horses for slaughter. They've had no success—but even if a ban did pass, some activists say, it would do little to ease suffering, as owners desperate to shed responsibility for their animals might simply abandon them to starve. Hiring a veterinarian to euthanize and dispose of a horse can cost hundreds of dollars. Horse-rescue groups take in some unwanted animals, but they don't have the resources to care for them all.
"Every day, I'm turning horses away. I feel like I'm playing God, because I have to pick and choose," said Whitney Wright, director of Hope for Horses, a rescue group in Asheville, N.C. She worked to shut down slaughterhouses but now would like to see a few reopen under strict guidelines for humane handling.
Read More
There is no doubt that there is an over-abundance of horses in this country. The availability of a domestic harvest facility would greatly reduce the suffering that is currently taking place. The Summit of the Horse is currently taking place where discussions about this very thing are taking place. While animal rights activists like to spend their time mocking those of us who raise livestock and provide food for this country, we are having the serious discussions that need to take place.
Food Safety
California organic beef producer recalls meat over E. coli concerns
January 3, 2011
10:47 am
There’s nothing that dampens your New Year's appetite like a food-safety recall, particularly one for an organic ground-beef product.
Federal officials announced Monday that First Class Foods Inc., an organic beef producer based in Hawthorne, has recalled 34,373 pounds of organic ground beef and hamburger patties due to concern that they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure or, in the most severe cases, death.
There have been no reports of illness connected to these products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the company. The bacterium was found during a routine company test of its facilities, according to the FSIS. Read More
January 3, 2011
10:47 am
There’s nothing that dampens your New Year's appetite like a food-safety recall, particularly one for an organic ground-beef product.
Federal officials announced Monday that First Class Foods Inc., an organic beef producer based in Hawthorne, has recalled 34,373 pounds of organic ground beef and hamburger patties due to concern that they may be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7.
E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, kidney failure or, in the most severe cases, death.
There have been no reports of illness connected to these products, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service and the company. The bacterium was found during a routine company test of its facilities, according to the FSIS. Read More
There have been plenty of misconceptions about different types of food production methods. Specifically in beef production there are some that have tried to convince consumers that organic production makes for safer beef. Regardless of how beef cattle are raised there are going to be E. Coli that live in the digestive tract of the cattle. When we harvest cattle, regardless of the production method used to raise them, precautions must be taken to ensure no contamination takes place. This is true for all types of food coming from all types of production methods.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
There's No Such Thing As Hormone Free
Hormone meat pulled off shelves
• Wendy Hargreaves
• From: Sunday Herald Sun, Austrailia
• December 26, 2010 12:00AM
It is an Australian first that has sent shock waves through the meat industry.
Industry experts predict higher beef prices as more customers demand hormone-free meat, which makes up about half of all beef sold in Australia.
Farmers have used hormone growth promotants (HGPs) to speed up muscle growth in cattle for more than 30 years, backed by rigorous safety approval from health authorities.
But in a survey of 1000 people by Meat and Livestock Australia, leaked to the Sunday Herald Sun, almost half said they would consume less meat if it had added hormones, while 16 per cent would "never touch it again" and 15 per cent would "actively warn others".
Without the HGPs, industry experts said another two million head of cattle would be needed to make up a shortfall in meat, creating environmental problems. Read More
The most common question we get as we talk to consumers is about hormones. Most media stories, like this one, fail to give readers all of the information they need in order to make a sound decision. All food has hormones in it. Both animal and plant-based foods contain hormones. Hormones are the chemical messengers that life depends on. Many plants actually contain higher levels of hormones than meat does. There is no such thing as hormone free food.
The difference in hormone levels from a 3 ounce piece of beef treated with a growth hormone versus one that wasn’t is one-half of a nanogram. That’s one-half of one-billionth of a gram. Compare that to the amount of estrogen in a birth control pill, which is in the neighborhood of 34,000 nanograms. You would have to eat nearly 5 million pounds of beef to equal the amount of hormones in a year’s supply of birth control pill.
It’s essential that we put things in context when we are having discussions like these.
• Wendy Hargreaves
• From: Sunday Herald Sun, Austrailia
• December 26, 2010 12:00AM
It is an Australian first that has sent shock waves through the meat industry.
Industry experts predict higher beef prices as more customers demand hormone-free meat, which makes up about half of all beef sold in Australia.
Farmers have used hormone growth promotants (HGPs) to speed up muscle growth in cattle for more than 30 years, backed by rigorous safety approval from health authorities.
But in a survey of 1000 people by Meat and Livestock Australia, leaked to the Sunday Herald Sun, almost half said they would consume less meat if it had added hormones, while 16 per cent would "never touch it again" and 15 per cent would "actively warn others".
Without the HGPs, industry experts said another two million head of cattle would be needed to make up a shortfall in meat, creating environmental problems. Read More
The most common question we get as we talk to consumers is about hormones. Most media stories, like this one, fail to give readers all of the information they need in order to make a sound decision. All food has hormones in it. Both animal and plant-based foods contain hormones. Hormones are the chemical messengers that life depends on. Many plants actually contain higher levels of hormones than meat does. There is no such thing as hormone free food.
The difference in hormone levels from a 3 ounce piece of beef treated with a growth hormone versus one that wasn’t is one-half of a nanogram. That’s one-half of one-billionth of a gram. Compare that to the amount of estrogen in a birth control pill, which is in the neighborhood of 34,000 nanograms. You would have to eat nearly 5 million pounds of beef to equal the amount of hormones in a year’s supply of birth control pill.
It’s essential that we put things in context when we are having discussions like these.
Fallout From Pacelle's Comments Continue
Michael Vick wants a dog? Try Cujo
Tamara Dietrich
December 26, 2010
dailypress.com
I love dogs. They improve our lives, and lengthen them. They make us happier people.
Who doesn't deserve that?
As one animal lover/activist told me recently, "Nobody should be denied the companionship of a loyal pet."
But that same animal lover/activist also has this bumper sticker on his vehicle: "Help stop dog fighting. Neuter Michael Vick."
Harsh? Only if you forget the deeper, sordid picture of Vick's Bad Newz dog fighting ring in Surry County, which wasn't just some gentleman's sporting club where wagering was committed as well-muscled, athletic pit bulls tussled in a ring together, and may the better dog win.
This was a blood sport — emphasis on "blood" — in which dogs were maimed, crippled and ripped apart.
A judge ordered him not to own a dog while he's on probation, but apparently Vick has begun to reflect on how wonderful a family pet can be.
"I think just to have a pet in my household," said Vick in an interview with NBC News and The Grio.com, "and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals, I think it would be outstanding."
His advocate, Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, thinks so, too.
"I have been around him a lot," Pacelle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "and feel confident that he would do a good job as a pet owner."
Unless Pacelle is willing to give Vick his own personal family pet with no conditions, oversight or reservations — then forget it. Read More
Tamara Dietrich
December 26, 2010
dailypress.com
I love dogs. They improve our lives, and lengthen them. They make us happier people.
Who doesn't deserve that?
As one animal lover/activist told me recently, "Nobody should be denied the companionship of a loyal pet."
But that same animal lover/activist also has this bumper sticker on his vehicle: "Help stop dog fighting. Neuter Michael Vick."
Harsh? Only if you forget the deeper, sordid picture of Vick's Bad Newz dog fighting ring in Surry County, which wasn't just some gentleman's sporting club where wagering was committed as well-muscled, athletic pit bulls tussled in a ring together, and may the better dog win.
This was a blood sport — emphasis on "blood" — in which dogs were maimed, crippled and ripped apart.
A judge ordered him not to own a dog while he's on probation, but apparently Vick has begun to reflect on how wonderful a family pet can be.
"I think just to have a pet in my household," said Vick in an interview with NBC News and The Grio.com, "and to show people that I genuinely care, and my love and my passion for animals, I think it would be outstanding."
His advocate, Wayne Pacelle, president of the Humane Society of the United States, thinks so, too.
"I have been around him a lot," Pacelle told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, "and feel confident that he would do a good job as a pet owner."
Unless Pacelle is willing to give Vick his own personal family pet with no conditions, oversight or reservations — then forget it. Read More
Wayne Pacelle and the HSUS continue to show how out of touch they really are with their endorsement of pet ownership for convicted felon Michael Vick. This isn’t sitting well with anyone and Pacelle is hearing about it. This probably one of the biggest blunders Pacelle has ever made for his factory fundraising machine. It shows where their priorities are when they still don’t want livestock used for food but they think Vick should own a dog again.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Local Humane Society Talks About Damage Caused by HSUS
Hear the words straight from the director of a pet shelter in South Dakota that the intentional confusion caused by the HSUS is hurting local shelters. You will also hear her say that they give 97% of their budget towards the animals they care for. Why can't the HSUS do that?
Friday, December 17, 2010
Estate Planner in a Box
Randy McKee: Estate planning in a box
By Amanda Radke, TSLN
“It used to be what separated people was between have and have nots; but today, it's more split between who is informed and who is ignorant,” said Randy McKee, of McKee Companies, at the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association (SDCA) 62nd Annual Trade Show and Convention in Aberdeen, SD on Dec. 1, 2010.
McKee is a nationally-recognized estate planner, who developed “Estate Planner In A Box,” an easy-to-understand course designed to teach families how to put together an estate plan for an agriculture business. At the convention, he offered his advice on what farm and ranch families should think about as they prepare for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
“Estate planning can't wait,” said McKee. “There are three solid ways to eliminate federal estate taxes; if you pay even one penny for your estate, it's voluntary now. We can help you eliminate or reduce the costs for your heirs.”
McKee noted that while there are so many factors in the agriculture sector that can't be controlled, such as prices and the weather, there is one thing producers can have control on – the future of their family business.
“Our product teaches you how to gain control,” said McKee. “You don't want a judge determining the outcome of your operation. We can help you get on track to making those big decisions in your estate plan.”
Read More
Most of the time you hear me focusing on issues like animal rights and food production. There's no doubt that retaining the social license to produce food in this country is one of our biggest challenges. But the other one that I see as a threat is the complicated process of passing a farm or ranch to the next generation. Too many times this process doesn't seem to work out like everyone had hoped or else the task seemed so daunting that no estate plan was ever put in place. Estate Planner in a Box is by the far the best program I have ever found for dealing with this difficult subject. Many times the hardest part of estate planning is just getting started. That's exactly what this helps you do. Randy is a nationally respected expert on estate planning, but maybe even more importantly, he's a ranch kid from South Dakota. Agriculture is something that is near and dear to him and he has helped many families plan for their future.
By Amanda Radke, TSLN
“It used to be what separated people was between have and have nots; but today, it's more split between who is informed and who is ignorant,” said Randy McKee, of McKee Companies, at the South Dakota Cattlemen's Association (SDCA) 62nd Annual Trade Show and Convention in Aberdeen, SD on Dec. 1, 2010.
McKee is a nationally-recognized estate planner, who developed “Estate Planner In A Box,” an easy-to-understand course designed to teach families how to put together an estate plan for an agriculture business. At the convention, he offered his advice on what farm and ranch families should think about as they prepare for the uncertainties of tomorrow.
“Estate planning can't wait,” said McKee. “There are three solid ways to eliminate federal estate taxes; if you pay even one penny for your estate, it's voluntary now. We can help you eliminate or reduce the costs for your heirs.”
McKee noted that while there are so many factors in the agriculture sector that can't be controlled, such as prices and the weather, there is one thing producers can have control on – the future of their family business.
“Our product teaches you how to gain control,” said McKee. “You don't want a judge determining the outcome of your operation. We can help you get on track to making those big decisions in your estate plan.”
Read More
Most of the time you hear me focusing on issues like animal rights and food production. There's no doubt that retaining the social license to produce food in this country is one of our biggest challenges. But the other one that I see as a threat is the complicated process of passing a farm or ranch to the next generation. Too many times this process doesn't seem to work out like everyone had hoped or else the task seemed so daunting that no estate plan was ever put in place. Estate Planner in a Box is by the far the best program I have ever found for dealing with this difficult subject. Many times the hardest part of estate planning is just getting started. That's exactly what this helps you do. Randy is a nationally respected expert on estate planning, but maybe even more importantly, he's a ranch kid from South Dakota. Agriculture is something that is near and dear to him and he has helped many families plan for their future.
Pacelle, HSUS Says Vick Should Have Dogs Again
Humane Society president open to Michael Vick owning dogs again
By the CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) -- The head of one of America's biggest animal protection organizations said Thursday that Michael Vick, who served prison time for his role in a deadly dogfighting operation, should have the opportunity to bring a dog home -- in due time.
Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle told HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback shouldn't get a pet immediately and should have to meet certain milestones whenever he does. But Pacelle, whose group has worked with Vick in public outreach efforts, said that it would be wrong to close the door to his ever having a dog again.
"He's been going through counseling, he's been speaking to kids twice a month, and he needs to interact with animals," said Pacelle. "If he continues to hit these markers, then if his daughter wants a dog two or three years down the line,... I'm saying that we should be open to that possibility." Read More
By the CNN Wire Staff
(CNN) -- The head of one of America's biggest animal protection organizations said Thursday that Michael Vick, who served prison time for his role in a deadly dogfighting operation, should have the opportunity to bring a dog home -- in due time.
Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle told HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell that the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback shouldn't get a pet immediately and should have to meet certain milestones whenever he does. But Pacelle, whose group has worked with Vick in public outreach efforts, said that it would be wrong to close the door to his ever having a dog again.
"He's been going through counseling, he's been speaking to kids twice a month, and he needs to interact with animals," said Pacelle. "If he continues to hit these markers, then if his daughter wants a dog two or three years down the line,... I'm saying that we should be open to that possibility." Read More
So Pacelle and the HSUS continue to try driving animal agriculture out of this country yet he has no problem letting Vick own dogs again? Vick forced dogs to kill each other and farmers and ranchers are using livestock to help feed the world and Pacelle thinks the farmers and ranchers are a bigger threat? The reality bus left HSUS long ago but things like this continue to remind us how out of touch they really are.
Biotech Helping Feed Africa
Farmers benefit from biotech crops production
SPECIAL REPORT BY XINHUA CORRESPONDENT PETER MUTAI
NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Continued progress on commercialization of biotech crops was witnessed in all three countries in Africa during the 2009 period.
According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Application (ISAAA), South Africa has increased its hectarage by 17 percent while Burkina Faso increased by 14 percent.
The three countries broader coverage is of strategic importance because it allows more African countries to become practitioners of biotech crops and be able to benefit directly from learning by doing, a practice which has been proved to be very important.
This is a remarkable achievement given that Africa is the continent with the greatest challenge on food production compared to other continents.
As South Africa continue to export their biotech agricultural products such as maize, researchers now say that Kenya too could be on the beneficiary list once it adopts the technology.
With the food insecurity already ravaging most parts of sub Saharan Africa hence forcing countries to import food mainly maize and beans, the application of biotechnology could be of a solution to pest and diseases that wipe out millions of crops yearly. Read More
SPECIAL REPORT BY XINHUA CORRESPONDENT PETER MUTAI
NAIROBI (Xinhua) -- Continued progress on commercialization of biotech crops was witnessed in all three countries in Africa during the 2009 period.
According to the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-Biotech Application (ISAAA), South Africa has increased its hectarage by 17 percent while Burkina Faso increased by 14 percent.
The three countries broader coverage is of strategic importance because it allows more African countries to become practitioners of biotech crops and be able to benefit directly from learning by doing, a practice which has been proved to be very important.
This is a remarkable achievement given that Africa is the continent with the greatest challenge on food production compared to other continents.
As South Africa continue to export their biotech agricultural products such as maize, researchers now say that Kenya too could be on the beneficiary list once it adopts the technology.
With the food insecurity already ravaging most parts of sub Saharan Africa hence forcing countries to import food mainly maize and beans, the application of biotechnology could be of a solution to pest and diseases that wipe out millions of crops yearly. Read More
You certainly get a different perspective about biotechnology in countries where so many people are starving. There are no Michael Pollan’s in Africa and the reason is that many people over there wonder where their next meal is coming from. Having the luxury to choose food that was raised in a certain way is a very foreign concept to people in Africa . Our country has the ability to help feed these people yet we have full-stomached protesters and activists that are trying to stop that from happening. This is why Pollan’s line of thinking is so out of touch with reality, a reality that too many people live with every day.
Monday, December 13, 2010
NE Gov Tells HSUS To Stay Out
Nebraska governor on HSUS: ‘We’re going to beat them’
December 9, 2010 by Ken Anderson
BrownfieldAgNews.com
The governor of Nebraska is sending a strong message to the Humane Society of the United States—if the animal rights group goes after the state’s livestock industry, it’s in for a fight.
“The Humane Society of the United States is anti-agriculture and they’re out to destroy animal agriculture—and if they want to come to Nebraska, we’re going to fight them and we’re going to beat them,” Heineman says. “Agriculture is the number one industry in this state. It’s what makes our economy so strong. I’m going to stand tall and this is a fight we won’t shy away from.”
In an interview with Brownfield after his speech to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s group in Kearney, Heineman made it clear that compromise is not an option.
“In Nebraska, no deal, no compromise—we’re going to stand up, we’re going to beat them,” he says. “They’d be better off going somewhere else because they’re going to lose if they stay in Nebraska.”
HSUS has recently become more active in Nebraska, hiring a state director and holding a town hall meeting in Lincoln. Link
It’s great to see our elected leaders stand up for their constituents against the lying bully that is the HSUS. Their efforts to eliminate animal agriculture are more apparent than ever and it’s being noticed. I would think it must be getting tougher for Pacelle to continue trying to sell his group as just an animal welfare group. You don’t see politicians coming out against worthy charities, just the fraudulent ones.
December 9, 2010 by Ken Anderson
BrownfieldAgNews.com
The governor of Nebraska is sending a strong message to the Humane Society of the United States—if the animal rights group goes after the state’s livestock industry, it’s in for a fight.
“The Humane Society of the United States is anti-agriculture and they’re out to destroy animal agriculture—and if they want to come to Nebraska, we’re going to fight them and we’re going to beat them,” Heineman says. “Agriculture is the number one industry in this state. It’s what makes our economy so strong. I’m going to stand tall and this is a fight we won’t shy away from.”
In an interview with Brownfield after his speech to the Nebraska Cattlemen’s group in Kearney, Heineman made it clear that compromise is not an option.
“In Nebraska, no deal, no compromise—we’re going to stand up, we’re going to beat them,” he says. “They’d be better off going somewhere else because they’re going to lose if they stay in Nebraska.”
HSUS has recently become more active in Nebraska, hiring a state director and holding a town hall meeting in Lincoln. Link
It’s great to see our elected leaders stand up for their constituents against the lying bully that is the HSUS. Their efforts to eliminate animal agriculture are more apparent than ever and it’s being noticed. I would think it must be getting tougher for Pacelle to continue trying to sell his group as just an animal welfare group. You don’t see politicians coming out against worthy charities, just the fraudulent ones.
Beat Stress, Eat a Steak!
Feeling stressed? Grill a steak, study suggests
BY PHILIP BRASHER & DAN PILLER • BUSINESS@DMREG.COM • DECEMBER 12, 2010
Des Moines Register
Red meat's image has tended to emphasize stereotypically aggressive male behavior, ranging from ancient barbarians to modern tailgaters.
But McGill University in Canada says its studies suggest otherwise: Meat has a calming effect on men.
Maybe men know what is best for them when they gravitate to the backyard grill.
"It wouldn't be advantageous to be aggressive anymore, because you would've already used your aggression to acquire the meat, and furthermore, you'd be surrounded by people who share ... your DNA," lead researcher Frank Kachanoff told the Montreal Gazette. "One of the basic principles in evolution is to want to preserve not only your DNA but also that of your next of kin."
How well the beef-is-calming notion takes hold remains to be seen. U.S. per capita consumption has dropped by about 25 percent in the last half-century. Link
BY PHILIP BRASHER & DAN PILLER • BUSINESS@DMREG.COM • DECEMBER 12, 2010
Des Moines Register
Red meat's image has tended to emphasize stereotypically aggressive male behavior, ranging from ancient barbarians to modern tailgaters.
But McGill University in Canada says its studies suggest otherwise: Meat has a calming effect on men.
Maybe men know what is best for them when they gravitate to the backyard grill.
"It wouldn't be advantageous to be aggressive anymore, because you would've already used your aggression to acquire the meat, and furthermore, you'd be surrounded by people who share ... your DNA," lead researcher Frank Kachanoff told the Montreal Gazette. "One of the basic principles in evolution is to want to preserve not only your DNA but also that of your next of kin."
How well the beef-is-calming notion takes hold remains to be seen. U.S. per capita consumption has dropped by about 25 percent in the last half-century. Link
It’s hard to be stressed when you are about to enjoy a great steak! Meat is an essential part of the balanced diet that we should all have. Eliminating food groups from your diet is never a good idea and the science continues to suggest it.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Ag is the Foundation of our Society
Ag aiding economy
By: Jerry Hagstrom, Special to Agweek
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a Dec. 1 news conference, highlighted recently released trade and income statistics showing agriculture leading the country out of the recession.
Vilsack said USDA forecasts that U.S. farm exports in fiscal year 2011 will set a record high $126.5 billion, exceeding the fiscal year 2008, formerly the highest level on record at $114.9 billion.
Agriculture continues to be one of the only major sectors of the American economy with a trade surplus — which is expected to be $41 billion in this fiscal year, Vilsack noted. He said the forecast “demonstrates that the demand for U.S. food and agriculture around the world is stronger than ever,” with sales surging in China, Southeast Asia, North America and the Middle East. Read More
By: Jerry Hagstrom, Special to Agweek
WASHINGTON — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, in a Dec. 1 news conference, highlighted recently released trade and income statistics showing agriculture leading the country out of the recession.
Vilsack said USDA forecasts that U.S. farm exports in fiscal year 2011 will set a record high $126.5 billion, exceeding the fiscal year 2008, formerly the highest level on record at $114.9 billion.
Agriculture continues to be one of the only major sectors of the American economy with a trade surplus — which is expected to be $41 billion in this fiscal year, Vilsack noted. He said the forecast “demonstrates that the demand for U.S. food and agriculture around the world is stronger than ever,” with sales surging in China, Southeast Asia, North America and the Middle East. Read More
Agriculture truly is the foundation for our society, and that includes our economy. All wealth comes from the ground which is why a domestically raised food supply is so critical. The instant we start relying on someone else to grow our food our country will be in grave danger.
Truth About HSUS Revealed Again
The Humane Society of the United States is not what you think
By: Ron Arnold 12/02/10 8:05 PM
Wahington Examiner
OpEd Contributor
If you donate to the Humane Society of the United States for supporting the homeless doggies and kitties in your local animal shelter, you've likely been suckered by one of Big Green's most notorious propaganda mills.
HSUS is a radical no-meat, anti-hunting, anti-gun octopus that spends millions swallowing other animal groups whole, but habitually gives less than 1 percent of its annual revenue to a few selected local shelters. It's not that they can't afford it -- they raked in $101.6 million last year alone.
HSUS got so big because of CEO Wayne Pacelle's takeovers of the extremist Fund for Animals and the respectable Doris Day Animal League, in what he calls "corporate combinations."
That, and his ability to create high-profile projects like disaster relief crews that swoop stranded cats and dogs from flooded housetops while the TV cameras watch -- then quietly dump them on nearby shelters without so much as a dime's worth of support.
Pacelle gets the credit, the grunts get the critters. Read More
By: Ron Arnold 12/02/10 8:05 PM
Wahington Examiner
OpEd Contributor
If you donate to the Humane Society of the United States for supporting the homeless doggies and kitties in your local animal shelter, you've likely been suckered by one of Big Green's most notorious propaganda mills.
HSUS is a radical no-meat, anti-hunting, anti-gun octopus that spends millions swallowing other animal groups whole, but habitually gives less than 1 percent of its annual revenue to a few selected local shelters. It's not that they can't afford it -- they raked in $101.6 million last year alone.
HSUS got so big because of CEO Wayne Pacelle's takeovers of the extremist Fund for Animals and the respectable Doris Day Animal League, in what he calls "corporate combinations."
That, and his ability to create high-profile projects like disaster relief crews that swoop stranded cats and dogs from flooded housetops while the TV cameras watch -- then quietly dump them on nearby shelters without so much as a dime's worth of support.
Pacelle gets the credit, the grunts get the critters. Read More
There are more people every day that are learning the truth about the HSUS. While they continue to claim that they aren’t anti-meat or anti-ag, one only has to look at their suggested recipes to see what their true goals are. That’s where the rubber meats the road. But while we have made great strides in exposing this group we must continue to do more. There are still too many people that think this group actually cares for pets. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
More Farm American Coverage
I have really appreciated all of the media coverage of the Farm American project. A big thank you to Vicki Myers from Progressive Farmer/DTN for this article.
Ag Warrior
Cowboys, Farmers, Furniture and NASCAR
Victoria G. Myers Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
Mon Nov 29, 2010 08:31 AM CST
Troy Hadrick is looking for $22 million. That's what it will cost to build a campaign to promote America's farmers and ranchers on NASCAR's pit row. And when you hear Hadrick talk about the program, $22 million begins to sound like a deal.
The no-nonsense rancher from Faulkton, S.D., has a face you might remember. He countered a contribution Yellow Tail wine made to The Humane Society with a YouTube video that went viral. It was a simple, straightforward image of the young rancher pouring a bottle of the wine out on the ground, with cattle in the background. The reaction had Yellow Tail backpedaling on its donation soon after the video was posted.
Since then, Hadrick and his wife, Stacy, have become well-known advocates of the American farmer and rancher. They travel and speak across the country with one goal: letting average consumers get to know a real rancher. It's a rewarding pursuit.
"It's amazing to watch it happen, when consumers meet a farmer or rancher. It's like the lightbulb goes on and they see we are human and that we do care," says Hadrick.
The rancher says for too long media and organizations he considers anti-agriculture have worked to fear monger and dehumanize people who produce America's food. He points to terms like "factory farm" or "big ag," which he says have a goal of "making us faceless and cold." Read More
Ag Warrior
Cowboys, Farmers, Furniture and NASCAR
Victoria G. Myers Progressive Farmer Senior Editor
Mon Nov 29, 2010 08:31 AM CST
Troy Hadrick is looking for $22 million. That's what it will cost to build a campaign to promote America's farmers and ranchers on NASCAR's pit row. And when you hear Hadrick talk about the program, $22 million begins to sound like a deal.
The no-nonsense rancher from Faulkton, S.D., has a face you might remember. He countered a contribution Yellow Tail wine made to The Humane Society with a YouTube video that went viral. It was a simple, straightforward image of the young rancher pouring a bottle of the wine out on the ground, with cattle in the background. The reaction had Yellow Tail backpedaling on its donation soon after the video was posted.
Since then, Hadrick and his wife, Stacy, have become well-known advocates of the American farmer and rancher. They travel and speak across the country with one goal: letting average consumers get to know a real rancher. It's a rewarding pursuit.
"It's amazing to watch it happen, when consumers meet a farmer or rancher. It's like the lightbulb goes on and they see we are human and that we do care," says Hadrick.
The rancher says for too long media and organizations he considers anti-agriculture have worked to fear monger and dehumanize people who produce America's food. He points to terms like "factory farm" or "big ag," which he says have a goal of "making us faceless and cold." Read More
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